ᐅ 200 m² single-family house for 4-5 people without a basement on a narrow lot
Created on: 7 Sep 2019 18:07
H
hausbauerH
hausbauer7 Sep 2019 18:07Hello,
I’m looking forward to your opinions on this design.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size 525 m² (5650 sq ft), 17 m (56 ft) narrow along the street at the south end x 31 m (102 ft) long north-south orientation
Land is completely flat
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary each 5 m (16 ft) from the street at the south and from the northern border
Edge development
Number of parking spaces 2
Maximum height / limits 8 m (26 ft) total height (attic will be quite low)
Client Requirements
Basement, floors 2 full floors without basement
Number of people, age 2 adults + 2 children (currently small) + possibly a third child
Room requirements on ground and upper floor 2 children’s rooms, 1 office/guest room large enough to be another children’s room, 1 additional small office, guest bathroom with shower, open living-dining area
Office: family use or home office? Only for work after hours and weekends, as well as for taxes etc.
Number of overnight guests per year few
Open or closed architecture
Balcony, roof terrace no
Garage, carport Double garage would be good, but probably won’t fit?
Utility garden, greenhouse no
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why some things should or shouldn’t be included
Bedroom facing north for a clear view; no north-facing garden because it would be too dark in autumn/winter due to shading from surrounding houses; overall, lots of natural light in the living areas is very important to us
Enough usable space and storage inside the house (large utility and service room), since we don’t have a basement and there is no room on the plot for large garden sheds
House Design
Who designed it: self-designed based on a template
What do you like most? Why? Layout of the upper floor (nice children’s rooms with south and southwest orientation, bedroom facing north, large utility room), possibility of a second terrace on the north side by the guest room for shade and view north in midsummer
What do you not like? Why? Entrance area on the ground floor is a bit narrow, otherwise we’re quite inexperienced with what might work well or not in everyday life.
If you had to compromise, on which details or expansions
-You could do without: large hallway areas, if necessary a half-landing staircase (instead of more space-consuming stairs), if needed a pantry next to the kitchen (could be replaced by space under the stairs), a structural requirement might mean adding an extra partition wall in the utility room (which could also be used as a room divider for more storage space)
-You cannot do without: south-facing living-dining area, enough space for bicycles etc. on the property (currently a bit tight)
Questions about the floor plan:
- Is the plot well used?
- Is the entrance area too narrow at 175 cm (69 inches)?
- Are the rooms arranged practically for a family of 4 to 5?
- Do we have enough storage given that we lack a basement and the attic is quite low?
- Is it a big disadvantage in terms of sound transmission that the two children’s rooms share a common wall?
Note: The entire plan will be revised by a professional once we are happy with the overall layout. Then dimensions will be more precise, drawings nicer, and structural calculations reliable. I’m just interested in early feedback on potential weak points and good alternatives.
I’m looking forward to your opinions on this design.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Development Plan / Restrictions
Plot size 525 m² (5650 sq ft), 17 m (56 ft) narrow along the street at the south end x 31 m (102 ft) long north-south orientation
Land is completely flat
Site coverage ratio 0.4
Floor area ratio 0.8
Building envelope, building line and boundary each 5 m (16 ft) from the street at the south and from the northern border
Edge development
Number of parking spaces 2
Maximum height / limits 8 m (26 ft) total height (attic will be quite low)
Client Requirements
Basement, floors 2 full floors without basement
Number of people, age 2 adults + 2 children (currently small) + possibly a third child
Room requirements on ground and upper floor 2 children’s rooms, 1 office/guest room large enough to be another children’s room, 1 additional small office, guest bathroom with shower, open living-dining area
Office: family use or home office? Only for work after hours and weekends, as well as for taxes etc.
Number of overnight guests per year few
Open or closed architecture
Balcony, roof terrace no
Garage, carport Double garage would be good, but probably won’t fit?
Utility garden, greenhouse no
Other wishes / special features / daily routine, also reasons why some things should or shouldn’t be included
Bedroom facing north for a clear view; no north-facing garden because it would be too dark in autumn/winter due to shading from surrounding houses; overall, lots of natural light in the living areas is very important to us
Enough usable space and storage inside the house (large utility and service room), since we don’t have a basement and there is no room on the plot for large garden sheds
House Design
Who designed it: self-designed based on a template
What do you like most? Why? Layout of the upper floor (nice children’s rooms with south and southwest orientation, bedroom facing north, large utility room), possibility of a second terrace on the north side by the guest room for shade and view north in midsummer
What do you not like? Why? Entrance area on the ground floor is a bit narrow, otherwise we’re quite inexperienced with what might work well or not in everyday life.
If you had to compromise, on which details or expansions
-You could do without: large hallway areas, if necessary a half-landing staircase (instead of more space-consuming stairs), if needed a pantry next to the kitchen (could be replaced by space under the stairs), a structural requirement might mean adding an extra partition wall in the utility room (which could also be used as a room divider for more storage space)
-You cannot do without: south-facing living-dining area, enough space for bicycles etc. on the property (currently a bit tight)
Questions about the floor plan:
- Is the plot well used?
- Is the entrance area too narrow at 175 cm (69 inches)?
- Are the rooms arranged practically for a family of 4 to 5?
- Do we have enough storage given that we lack a basement and the attic is quite low?
- Is it a big disadvantage in terms of sound transmission that the two children’s rooms share a common wall?
Note: The entire plan will be revised by a professional once we are happy with the overall layout. Then dimensions will be more precise, drawings nicer, and structural calculations reliable. I’m just interested in early feedback on potential weak points and good alternatives.
H
hausbauer7 Sep 2019 18:49Yes, I’ve already tried that, the standard furniture should fit. I need to get some proper planning software. Maybe the 3.60m (12 feet) wide living room means you’re sitting a bit too close to the TV?
You have to decide that yourself.
When it comes to questions like this, make the measuring tape your best friend.
Phrase criticism politely. You don’t have to say the guest toilet is worse than a porta-potty. We are planning and you have a guest WC without a shower. What are the dimensions?
Measure at your home, your parents’ place, or close friends’ houses.
Measure the space at your own home. Does it fit? Too far? Too much room?
For me, the distance is very tight.
Don’t just consider standard furniture but the ones you actually want. XXL sofa, larger table, wider or longer bed.
When it comes to questions like this, make the measuring tape your best friend.
Phrase criticism politely. You don’t have to say the guest toilet is worse than a porta-potty. We are planning and you have a guest WC without a shower. What are the dimensions?
Measure at your home, your parents’ place, or close friends’ houses.
Measure the space at your own home. Does it fit? Too far? Too much room?
For me, the distance is very tight.
Don’t just consider standard furniture but the ones you actually want. XXL sofa, larger table, wider or longer bed.
Can you share a site plan including the proposed house?
I don’t like the layout of the house, garage, bike room, and long driveway.
A simple copy and pencil sketch is enough.
The technical room so far back will really increase costs. You pay for every meter the lines need to be buried.
Do the bicycles have to be stored so far back?
Ground floor
The shower doesn’t fit in the bathroom.
The cloakroom doesn’t fit in the entrance area.
Pantry: how is the freezer supposed to be positioned? Keep in mind it needs quite a bit of space to open.
Upper floor
Replace the small storage room with a built-in closet.
Then move the bathroom door 60 cm (24 inches) north; this way a closet can fit behind the door.
It would be beneficial to swap the laundry room and stairs on the upper floor.
The hallway is very narrow and long.
I don’t like the layout of the house, garage, bike room, and long driveway.
A simple copy and pencil sketch is enough.
The technical room so far back will really increase costs. You pay for every meter the lines need to be buried.
Do the bicycles have to be stored so far back?
Ground floor
The shower doesn’t fit in the bathroom.
The cloakroom doesn’t fit in the entrance area.
Pantry: how is the freezer supposed to be positioned? Keep in mind it needs quite a bit of space to open.
Upper floor
Replace the small storage room with a built-in closet.
Then move the bathroom door 60 cm (24 inches) north; this way a closet can fit behind the door.
It would be beneficial to swap the laundry room and stairs on the upper floor.
The hallway is very narrow and long.
H
hausbauer7 Sep 2019 20:54haydee schrieb:
Can you share a site plan with the submitted house? What do you mean? Neighboring buildings?
I don’t like the layout of the house, garage, bike room, and long driveway.
-> What would be a better option if you want a south-facing garden or at least south-facing living rooms? Ideally, we would have a double carport directly on the street, but that probably won’t be approved.
A copy and pencil are enough.
The technical room (HT) is so far back, it really adds up. You pay for every meter the pipes have to be buried.
Do the bikes have to be stored back there?
-> No, I just don’t know where else to put them.
Ground floor
The shower doesn’t fit in the toilet. -> Thanks for the note; the guest bathroom will probably have to be widened by several 10cm (several 4 inches) into the technical room.
The cloakroom doesn’t fit in the entrance -> That was also a concern of mine, not sure how to solve it, perhaps opposite the entrance?
Pantry: How should the freezer be arranged? Note that it needs quite a bit of space to open. -> It will probably be located in the kitchen, also because of heat dissipation.
Upper floor
Replace the small storage room with a built-in closet.
Then move the bathroom door 60cm (24 inches) north, so a cabinet fits behind the door. -> Good idea.
It would be beneficial to swap the utility room and the staircase on the upper floor. -> It was like that before, but I switched it so the route to the front door is not even longer (the entrance on the ground floor would then move further north).
The hallway is very narrow and long -> I prioritize nice living spaces over a wider hallway upstairs. But maybe the house should be 10-20cm (4-8 inches) wider to gain some space here.
Anyway, thanks for all the feedback, it’s really valuable!
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